Sister Karla McKinnie Visits Ghana, West Africa

Intermountain Catholic

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Holy Cross Sister Karla McKinnie, (back row, far right) traveled to Ghana to attend an assembly of her order as an observer. Courtesy photo

By Sr. Karla McKinnie

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

After an uneventful trip from Salt Lake City and Seattle, Holy Cross Sisters Karla McKinnie and Mary Ellen Johnson were greeted at the Accra, Ghana airport on Nov. 13 by Sister Margaret Mary (Maggie) Nimo, Area Superior, and driven directly to Kasoa, an hour from Accra, where they had lunch and settled into their rooms. The saga with the oppressive heat began while they rested from the journey. The next morning they met some of the sisters and St. Mary’s College volunteers at breakfast. Sister Lucy Lalsangzuali, from India, who is in Ghana for part of an internship in school leadership, took Sister Karla on a tour of Our Lady of Holy Cross School, run by the Sisters of the Holy Cross. There were close to 400 students, grades PK through sixth grade. Sister Esther Adjoa Entsiwah, CSC has established a wonderful program, which Sister Karla enjoyed seeing in action.

Sr. Maggie had planned for the visitors to have a day of rest before starting any activities so they did not begin the touring until Nov. 15. Sr. Maggie, along with Sister Comfort Arthur, drove them to Cape Coast to the Brothers of Holy Cross Center-Brafoya, where they met the temporarily professed Holy Cross Sisters from Ghana and Uganda. After lunch the whole group went to Kakum National Park to visit a canopy walk. They made their way up the hill, although the forest was dripping with recent rains. Each of the group had the courage to walk the bridges over the forest and experience the beauty and quiet of the rain forest. Their guide, William, was very helpful and informative.

On Saturday, Brother Joseph (Joe) Bayon Kofi dropped the sisters off at the Cape Coast Slave Castle, where they spent the morning. It was very interesting but also sobering to listen to the crimes against humanity. The Cape Coast Castle was the site of the visit of President Barack Obama when he was in Ghana. While there, the sisters also saw the colorful fishing fleets at the beach near the castle and had a brief walk through the open market.

Early Sunday, they all piled in the van to return to Kasoa for the dedication of Saint Martha’s Church. After breakfast at the convent, two vans full of sisters, volunteers and Brother Joe went to the church. All the locals were clad in dresses and shirts made of special cloth commemorating the event. The Mass was a celebration of joy that lasted four and a half hours. There was a lot of dancing and wonderful singing. After Mass they returned to the convent for lunch and then back to Cape Coast.

The main reason for the visit to Ghana was to attend a Holy Cross assembly as observers, to get to know another part of the community of Holy Cross. Monday, a day of preparation for the Area of Africa Assembly, was spent in leisure. The other sisters from Uganda arrived that evening. That night all were invited to the Brothers’ rooftop for dinner to celebrate the assembly beginning and Brother Joe’s birthday.

Tuesday morning began the Assembly, themed "Journeying into the Future," with 22 sisters in attendance. Sister Lillian Sullivan and her house had planned a beautiful prayer. Dick Keeley from Ireland and Mark Mantey from Ghana were introduced as the facilitators for the process to be used during the meeting. Silent brainstorming was presented and used in the strategic planning process. Silent brainstorming allowed each person to participate without criticism or discussion. For two days the process was used several times while all were asked, "What is our vision for CSC Africa?"

Following the discussions, they met Thursday morning and compiled all the findings, coming up with three to four focuses, agreed upon by all. These will become initiatives for the area for the next three to five years. Everyone was grateful and had a feeling of accomplishment to have finished. Sister Lillian shared pictures of her trip to the South American assembly in Peru. The assembly ended early with a prayer ritual and gifts for Sisters Mary Ellen and Karla. Each person also got a symbol and the packet of completed work. Everyone enjoyed the assembly and was happy with its outcome. That night a group of dancers entertained the sisters and brothers on the roof of the Brothers’ residence. It was a fitting celebration to the end of the assembly.

Friday was an unexpected free day, so Sister Maggie led an excursion to the crocodile pond, the Coconut Grove Hotel on the Atlantic, and to shops in Cape Coast. The sisters could not have been more hospitable. Horizons have been broadened and the visitors are grateful for the wonderful work being done by our sisters in Africa.

Sisters Mary Ellen and Karla, along with all the sisters from Uganda, boarded the school bus for a three-hour trip to the Accra airport. They shared along the way and got to know one another a little better. They are grateful for the unique opportunity to plug into the lives of the sisters in the Area of Africa. Sister Karla arrived back in Salt Lake City on Nov. 24.

Sr. Karla McKinnie is director of Utah Catholic Schools’ Special Needs Program.